The 68-year-old global star will be presented with the Freedom of his home city during the one-off gig at Belfast's Waterfront Hall next month.

Two thousand tickets will be available online and from the Waterfront box office over the next week. Applications are to be selected at random by computer to ensure a spread of people from different areas attend.

Those who are successful will find out via an email or phone call at a later date.

Any tickets which are sold on for profit will become void, the City Council warned.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mairtin O Muilleoir, who will present the Freedom honour to the veteran singer, said they were expecting a huge level of interest.

"It will be a very special occasion and will live long in the memory of those in attendance," he said.

"The term living legend is too loosely thrown around these days but there is no doubting Van Morrison's eligibility for such status due to his incredible talent as a songwriter, musician and vocalist."

Morrison, a shipyard worker's son, is only the second person in 10 years to receive the accolade - the highest a council can bestow.

Known to fans across the world as "Van the Man", he has drawn inspiration from streets where he was born and raised for hits such as Cyprus Avenue and On Hyndford Street.

During his 50-year music career Morrison rose from the Irish showband scene to global stardom winning six Grammy Awards, a Brit as well as places in both the Rock and Roll and the Songwriters Halls of Fame.

The conferment ceremony and concert planned for November 15 has been billed as the highlight of the fourth annual Belfast Music Week.